The initial reactions for The Lion King were pretty amazing and all they hinted was Disney getting another major $Billion success. But now the critics’ embargo has lifted, and it seems that the critics are not exactly backing up those early reactions. Initially when this film was announced, everyone questioned the existence of the film and thought that Disney just wants to redo their classics in order to print money. Well there’s that, but they are offering us something fresh also. Although, The Lion King would still make a lot of money, but the Rotten Tomatoes Score isn’t as good as Disney would have liked.
It started with a 57% Rotten Score with a total of 86 reviews present on the website. As of now, 110 reviews have been counted and the score has risen up to 58%. So, this is exactly in line with Disney’s other live action remakes of old animated films as both Aladdin and Dumbo weren’t critical successes. Aladdin ended up with a final score of 57% & Dumbo, the lesser popular of those two ended with 46%.
Even with a mediocre score, The Lion King would certainly end up being a major hit because it will bring in Nostalgia. Just like Aladdin has managed to woo everyone, this third live action Disney film of the year would manage to do that in an even better way. Director Jon Favreau has managed to do a great job, and the cast of the film has enhanced the film to another level. So yes, the existence of the film is justified as a new generation of kids will get to see this classic while the older people will also be wrapped in nostalgia.
Here’s what the critics think about this film:
Indiewire – David Ehrlich
“The Lion King demands that we suspend our disbelief at the same time that it tries to convince us that we don’t have to, and the resulting dissonance is so draining that it becomes hard to remember how special this story once felt. Zazu worries that the circle of life has become ‘a meaningless line of indifference,’ but The Lion King more closely resembles a perfect ouroboros. It’s the work of a studio that’s gobbled up the rest of the film industry and is still hungry for more. The Lion King feels less like a remake than a snuff film, and a boring one at that.”
You can read the full review here.
Forbes – Scott Mendelson
“Favreau himself used this technology to better use in crafting a ‘new’ version of The Jungle Book that was pitched to smart kids. This movie conversely feels aimed at dumb adults. I did not demand a new Lion King that was superior to the original, nor do I consider that film to be an untouchable piece of artistic gospel (the stage show has some interesting alterations). But this is merely the same movie with a new coat of paint that renders it less magical. It may be worth seeing once for the visuals, but its redundancy and inferiority has rendered it artistically irrelevant
Here’s the full review of Forbes.
Variety – Peter Debruge
“By focusing his attention on upgrading the look of the earlier film, Favreau reinforces the strength of the 1994 classic. If you were never a fan of The Lion King, then nothing here will win you over. On the other hand, for those too young ever to have seen it, this could be a life-changing experience, one that strives to create a kind of understanding between audiences and the animal kingdom that Disney once made a regular part of its mission, back in the era of films such as The Legend of Lobo and The Incredible Journey. It’s a shame to sacrifice the hand-drawn artistry — which will surely hold up better in the long haul — but those are the terms with this latest wave of remakes, and The Lion King at least honors what came before, using current animation technology to convince us that we’re watching the real thing.”
You can read the full review here.
The Hollywood Reporter – Todd Mccarthy
“The more pronounced realism delivers some scenes with a shade more power, notably the sight of the elephants’ graveyard and Simba’s multiple (too many, actually) encounters with the ever-prowling, teeth-baring hyenas; the new vividness no doubt accounts for the shift from a G to PG rating. There’s a spiffy cover of ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’ sung by Beyonce (who voices Simba’s childhood friend Nala) and Glover, along with a new Beyonce number, ‘Spirit.’ Perhaps the greatest special effect of all is the luster of the lions’ fur and coats. But by and large, very few remakes, other than Gus Van Sant’s shot-by-shot reproduction of Psycho, have adhered as closely to their original versions as this one does. Everything here is so safe and tame and carefully calculated as to seem predigested. There’s nary a surprise in the whole two hours.”
Here’s the full review of THR.
Comicbook.Com – Brandon Davis
“All things considered, The Lion King was not a movie which needed to be remade but its flawless visuals and impressive voice cast’s efforts justify its existence. The emotional punches come as expected, the musical cues carry it through, and [Seth] Rogen and [Billy] Eichner make it truly entertaining. The legacy of the original may in fact be enhanced by the effort to replicate its magic, while a new generation of families is told a hearty, visually gorgeous, and entertaining new story.”
You can read the full review here.
The Lion King comes out on July 19.
